What is such a handsome devil doing in shoe heaven? It’s Ty from Jeffrey Campbell!

Lindsay, Susan and Sari (three of our wonderful buyers) went vintage shoe shopping with Ty from Jeffrey Campbell during their recent buying trip to Berlin.

And in case you missed it Friday, the story even made it to JC’s blog!

Here’s how it went down: “Ty caught wind of an epic vintage shoe store in the same area where we’d seen a few great vintage stores (read Lindsay’s post about the other stores here), so we woke up early one morning and headed over!” Lindsay told me. “The experience itself was worth more than its weight in heels (and that means a lot coming from me).”

Inside the vintage shoe store Calypso

Sari told me about what they found in that lovely shop: “We picked out some amazing and unique vintage styles. My favorite was a pair of 1960s-style pointed toe oxfords. Another stand-out was a pair of thigh-high black leather boots that buckled at the waist (think chaps meet boot) that Ty picked out!”

I also asked Lindsay to tell me more about Ty and Jeffrey.  “I’m not sure where to start. Have they been canonized yet?” she responded.

Oh, how we love the guys of Jeffrey Campbell! And…for those of you who just can’t get enough of JC, we’re going to be posting my interview with Jeffrey tomorrow!

Image from Street Peeper

I’m really inspired by the bold colors of this girl’s dress, and I love the simplicity of the wrapped style offset by ruffled sleeves. She looks like a pretty little circus clown with her hat and bright red corsage. Her simple black accessories work perfectly with her vibrant dress. To add a splash of color to your wardrobe, try the Orangerie Dress in Crystal Palace and pair it with The Cover Girl’s Derby, The Fabulous Purse, Black Mamba Flats and the Flower Box Pin.

Thank you all for your Kaboodle Contest submissions. We had a lot of fun looking through and admiring them.
And the winner of the $100 ModCloth gift certificate and holiday cheer is…Amy!
Here’s her award-winning styleboard:

Pop Art Chic And Functional: For the whimsical but practical girl with a bright sense of style.

Making this decision was tough. So we chose Andrea and Rebecca as runners-up. They will each receive our warmest wishes and a 10% off coupon for their next ModCloth purchase!

P.S. Winners, please friend us on Kaboodle, so we can send you your prizes.

Thanks everyone!!

Okay everyone, if you were inspired on Monday to get creative with Polyvore, then lemme tell you about Kaboodle! It’s another community of trendsetters who create collages called ’styleboards’ filled with their favorite things.

Here’s a styleboard we filled with gifts for animal lovers:

ModCloth Gift… by modcloth

And since we’ve been in the giving holiday spirit these last few weeks, we’re going to hold a Kaboodle contest!

Here are the directions:
-Using only ModCloth items, create and publish your own styleboard on Kaboodle
-Copy and paste your styleboard’s link as a comment to this blog post by Sunday, December 7 at Midnight
We’ll announce the winner next week, and give them a $100 ModCloth gift certificate!

(Remember, you’ve got to use your favorite ModCloth pieces and post your styleboard link to this blog post in order to qualify!)

We wanted to give you savvy shoppers an inside tip: we’re part of Polyvore.com! For those of you who don’t know, Polyvore is a great community for artists and fashionistas alike. You can make collages from any pics on the web- simply mix and match items from your wish list and your closet, employ your artistic sensibilities, and then share your creations with friends.

Here’s one of our holiday creations:

Black White Metallic by modcloth

It’s fun (and a little addictive) to see how pieces fit together. If you’ve got a ModCloth favorite, see just how it’ll look with Betsey Johnson Tights or the Prima Donna High Heels (or both!)  You can also check out what others have paired together, and view our newest holiday sets. Ooh, and don’t forget to add us as a contact, too. Happy creating!

This past weekend marked the 5th annual Handmade Arcade. An amazing gathering of crafters and their wares, this event has quickly become a Pittsburgh tradition. It is the perfect place to find one of a kind holiday gifts, taste amazing local baked goods (including the best vegan cinnamon rolls ever), and catch up with old friends. To be sure, it is not your grandmother’s craft fair. There are no ducks in bonnets, dried flower wreaths, or cow-themed kitchen kitsch. Perhaps most importantly, everything does not smell of cinnamon and pine. What can be found, however, is a fantastic variety of prints, stationary, jewelry, soaps, housewares, plush toys, apparel, knitwear, and more.

I saw some of my favorite indie crafters this year as well as some delightful new booths.

A busy crowd gathers in the Handmade Arcade’s new location, the Hunt Armory in Shadyside. 

Read the rest of this entry »

By ModCloth writer, Liz Bensink

It’s that time of year for one of our favorite events here in Pittsburgh–the Handmade Arcade!! If you’re new to the area or just new to Handmade Arcade, it’s Pittsburgh’s largest independent craft fair. The Handmade Arcade is happening this Saturday and Sunday starting at 11:00 AM at a brand new location, the historic Hunt Armory, located at 324 Emerson Street in the heart of Pittsburgh’s Shadyside neighborhood. A ModCloth must, this is the event for one-of-a-kind handmade wares created by more than 100 designers from throughout the city, region, and country.

We’ll all be there looking for holiday gifts and must-have clothes and accessories. Make sure to check back for Emily’s post this Monday on all her favorite finds. For a preview of the crafts you’ll encounter, check out the Handmade Arcade flickr account. See you there!

Don’t forget; today is the last day to post your Halloween costumes for the ModCloth Halloween Costume Contest!!

We know nothing feels better than slipping on a brand new outfit and the good news is that you don’t have to break the bank to get a new look that’s perfect for whatever is on your schedule this autumn! In our latest newsletter, we encouraged you to spend a little more time on you.

One of our basic beliefs is that small changes can have a big impact.  It isn’t necessary to be excessive to have great style.  So start with what you have already!  Pull out your favorite summer pieces and use our accessories to get them fall-ready.

Have a beloved Babydoll dress?  Add a long-sleeved tee, a pair of tights or knee highs, some flashy earrings, and Mary Janes. We recommend the Stone Cold Mary Janes, Cabernet Knee Highs, and Hoopla Hoops.

What about those summer tanks?  Just add a cardigan, some flats, and a pair of skinny pants in a fabulous fall color.  And don’t forget a seasonal scarf!  Try the Colorado Cardian, Autumn Skinny Jean in Mustard, Through the Woods Ballet Flats, and Oxbridge Scarf.

And every outfit can be improved with a new bag, like the Mood Swing Cut-Out Tote or Cream of the Crop Handbag.

So sit back, relax, and indulge in a little you time.  Why not begin with our latest charms and pendants, like the Autumn Orchard Pendant or Heart of Gold Necklace?

We have a feeling you just might find a little something to love…

I thought I’d found the vintage Holy Grail last year. This weekend, I came to the realization that I was mistaken. Behold-

- the perfect vintage swimsuit! I’ve been trying to find something like this in my size for as long as I can remember. Not that I need the perfect vintage swimsuit; in fact, I already have the perfect vintage-inspired suit, but there’s just something about the real thing. Now I just need an invite to a glamorous pool party!

We’ve just returned from another trip to LA and I just had to share this incredible find…

Chocolate mushroom cookies from a grocery store in Little Tokyo! I am totally in love. Does anyone know where to buy these on the east coast?